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Frequently Asked Questions
A page of common questions regarding HIV/AIDS
organized into sections/headings (ex. gay, transmission info, ACAS
resources, etc.) is available here.
Q: Why are women more vulnerable
to HIV infection?
A: Biologically
- Larger mucosal surface; micro lesions which can occur during
intercourse may be entry points for the virus; very young women
even more vulnerable in this respect.
- More virus in sperm than in vaginal secretions
- As with STIs, women are at least four times more vulnerable
to infection; the presence of untreated STIs is a risk factor
for HIV.
- Coerced sex increases risk of micro lesions.
Economically
- Financial or material dependence on men means that women cannot
control when, with whom and in what circumstances they have sex
- Many women have to exchange sex for material favours, for daily
survival. There is formal sex work but there is also this exchange,
which in many poor settings, is many women’s only way of
providing for themselves and their children.
Socially and culturally
- Women are not expected to discuss or make decisions about sexuality
- They cannot request, let alone insist on using a condom or
any form of protection
- If they refuse sex or request condom use, they often risk abuse,
as there is a suspicion of infidelity
- The many forms of violence against women mean that sex is often
coerced which is itself a risk factor for HIV infection
- For married and unmarried men, multiple partners (including
sex workers) are culturally accepted
- Women are expected to have relations with or marry older men,
who are more experienced, and more likely to be infected. Men
are seeking younger and younger partners in order to avoid infection
and in the belief that sex with a virgin cures AIDS and other
diseases.
Q: What are the signs of HIV infection?
Do women and men have the same symptoms?
A: Many people have no symptoms when they first
become infected with HIV. But some people get a flu-like illness
within a month or two after being exposed to the virus. The flu-like
symptoms - fever, headache, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes (immune
system glands in the neck and groin) - often go away within a
week. During this time, HIV is present in large amounts in semen
and vaginal fluids and it is very easy to pass the infection to
another person.
All people who have HIV go through what is called an asymptomatic
period of infection. This means that a person lives symptom free
for a period of time. But, during this time they can still pass
the infection to another person. The asymptomatic period varies
greatly from person to person. Some people may begin to have symptoms
within a few months, while others may be symptom free for 10 years
or more.
HIV is active inside a person's body, even when no symptoms are
present. The virus multiplies, or makes more viruses, killing
more and more cells of the immune system that fight infection
(called CD4 and T cells). This process weakens a person's immune
system over time. For many people, the first symptom they notice
is large lymph nodes (swollen glands) that may be enlarged for
more than 3 months. Other symptoms often felt months to years
before the onset of AIDS include:
- Lack of energy or fatigue.
- Weight loss.
- Frequent low-grade fevers and night sweats.
- Frequent yeast infections (in the mouth).
- Skin rashes or flaky skin that is hard to get rid of.
- Short-term memory loss.
Women who have HIV can also have other symptoms that happen more
often, may not respond to treatment, and can be harder to cure
including:
- Vaginal yeast infections.
- Other vaginal infections such as bacterial vaginosis and common
STDs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections that cause genital warts
and can lead to cervical cancer.
- Pelvic Inflammatory disease (PID), or infection of a woman's
reproductive organs.
- Menstrual cycle changes, such as not having periods.
Q: Do Women With HIV/AIDS Have More Chance
of Getting Other Health Problems?
A: Yes. Women with HIV/AIDS have more chance
of getting pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs), and cervical cancer. Women with HIV/AIDS should
be checked for these diseases every year. Doctors say that women
with HIV/AIDS should have a Pap smear two times a year.
Q: I’m pregnant. Should I get an
HIV test?
A: If you are HIV positive and pregnant there
is about a 25% chance that the baby will become infected. There
are treatments that reduce the risk of your baby getting HIV.
Your doctor should tell you about the risks and benefits to you
and your baby so you can decide the best options for you.
Q: I Am HIV Positive and Pregnant. Should
I Take Anti-HIV Medications? (source from www.thebody.com)
A: You should take anti-HIV medications if:
- you are experiencing severe symptoms of HIV or have been diagnosed
with AIDS
- your CD4 count is 200 cells/mm3 or less
- your viral load is greater than 1,000 copies/mL
Q: How Can I Take Care of Myself and
Others if I Have HIV/AIDS?
A:
- Do not have sex (intercourse, oral, or anal).
- Use a condom if you have sex. Use a condom for intercourse,
and oral and anal sex.
- Tell your sex partner(s) that you have HIV/AIDS so that they
can be tested and treated right away.
- Take all your medicine for your HIV/AIDS.
- See your doctor for regular check-ups.
- Do not share needles if you use drugs.
- Do not share razors or anything that might touch blood, semen,
or vaginal fluids.
- Do not breast feed your baby.
- Do not give blood.
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